Page 16 of Vindicated

Vallia didn’t respond, her eyes widening as we were led across a swinging bridge made from chains that swayed precariously from the weight of them. Her usual effervescence had been subdued by the day’s events, but it was nothing that wouldn’t pass.

I wasn’t sure if I believed Lettie that we’d see our old home again or that it would return to the way it had been, but I understood why she said it with such certainty. Believing the alternative was too bleak, and the day had already been an assault on our senses.

I gripped the chain railings of the bridge and tried not to look down at the drop. I shot a bright smile at the others, summoning by best acting skills. “This isn’t so bad, and it’s only temporary.”

We reached the other side of the bridge and Lettie twisted to eye me, dipping her voice as themajakcontinued to stride ahead. “Being a war bride doesn’t sound temporary to me.”

“It is,” I assured her. “Raas Lorken and I made a deal. As soon as he finds a safe place for us to live, our deal is over and I’ll be free to go.”

Lettie made a sound in the back of her throat that made it clear she didn’t believe that for a second. “Whatever you say, hon.”

My face heated, but before I could defend the deal I’d made, themajakstopped at a short corridor that jutted off to one side and two doors facing each other.

“Quarters for the males,” he said, tapping a panel to the side of one door and then the other.

The metal doors slid open to reveal basic rooms with bunk beds, which seemed standard for a military ship. One room had one set of the beds and the other, slightly larger room, had two sets facing each other. Hatch and Ringo quickly claimed one room while Hal tentatively entered the other.

Lettie swept her gaze around our group. “If we’re buddying up, I suppose it does make most sense for Vern to stay with Dell and Hal while Vallia shares with me.” She let her eyes rest on me for a beat. “Since Athena won’t be sharing with us.”

Hal’s mouth opened wordlessly as Lettie’s lanky brother loped into the room, grinning at the bunk beds.

“I call top bunk!”

“I’ll take the other top bunk,” Dell said, hurrying inside and clambering up the side of the bed.

The stage manager released a tortured sigh and sank onto one of the bottom ones. “They’re all yours.”

“A Vandar will bring you fresh clothes and food,” themajaksaid, turning on his heel and continuing down the corridor that wound around the inside of the ship.

“I hope their battle kilts fit,” I said under my breath to Vallia, and grinned when this earned me a grin.

“I hope ours do,” she quipped back with a wink, reassuring me that she would be okay.

“This isn’t forever,” I reminded the guys as I flashed them a wave and fell in step with Lettie and Vallia behind our escort.

Vallia glanced over her shoulder to where we’d left our friends. “I wish our rooms were closer to the boys.”

“Beggars can’t be choosers,” Lettie said, “although I’ll bet Athena won’t be in some tiny room with bunk beds.”

Truth be told, I wished I was being escorted to a narrow room with stacked beds. As it was, I had the sensation of being marched to an execution, and my heart pounded accordingly.

“I’m sure it won’t be fancy,” I said, trying to sound unbothered.

“The warlord’s private quarters?” Lettie gaped at me then let out a whistle. “I’ll bet it will be.”

I wrinkled my nose and took in the cold steel of the open-weave tube we were walking through, glad that at least it wasn’t swaying over the deep chasm. “Luxury doesn’t seem to be a feature on a warbird.”

“That’s not what I’ve heard,” Vallia said in a small voice.

I remembered that she’d been the only one with knowledge of the Vandar when Kolt had arrived. “What have you heard?”

Themajakwas several steps ahead, his strides long and his tail swinging behind him. I slowed my pace even more so our conversation wouldn’t be overheard.

Vallia stole a glance at the Vandar and looked between me and Lettie. “Just that the warlords have large private quarters with their own dining tables and really big beds.”

I gulped at this. I did not like the idea of one really big bed.

Lettie elbowed me in the side. “Told you.”